Glass door hardware locating apparatus



Aug. 28, 1962 w. J. HUBBARD ETAL 3,050,839

GLASS DOOR HARDWARE LOCATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1960 dmzd INVENTORS BY Q $0456; mop e ATTORNEYS ilniteri atent fire 3,050,839 GLASS D003 HARDWARE LOCATING APPARATUS William J. Hubbard, Toiedo, and Lester H. Flaherty,

Maumee, Ohio, assignors to Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 15,731 14 Claims. (Cl. 29256) This invention relates broadly to glass doors and more particularly to an apparatus for locating the hardware relative to the glass panel during fabrication of the door.

In the fabrication of glass doors one step is the securing of a metal sash member along the top and bottom edges of the glass panel. These metal sash members are ordinarily substantially H-shaped in cross-section having channel portions for receiving the top and bottom edges of the glass panel therein and other channel portions adapted to receive any hardware for the door, such as hinges or locking members. The metal sash members are conventionally secured to the top and bottom edges of the glass panel in spaced relation to the glass by means of a filler material disposed in the space between the glass panel and the sash member. This filler material is usually applied in a molten condition and upon cooling hardens and sets up to firmly secure the sash member to the glass panel.

During the construction of glass doors of the above type, a diflficult problem arises in the handling of the various parts and in the maintaining of the parts in proper position relative to one another during the securing of them to one another. For example, not only is the weight of the glass panel in tr door of this nature such that its handling by an assembler is very difiicult, but also difiiculty is experienced in holding the glass panel and metal sash members in properly spaced relation for a sufficient period of time to permit the pouring and cooling of the filler material. This is very important since if this spacing is not maintained, a direct bearing contact between the metal sash member and the glass panel may result causing a severe stressing of the glass edge which can break or crack the glass.

Therefore, it is the aim of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for supporting the glass panel and metal sash members and for maintaining the glass panel in properly spaced relation with respect to the sash members during the pouring of the filler material and until the filler material is completely solidified.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. i

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glass door of the type with which the present invention is concerned;-

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the glass panel used in the door of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side View of the glass door as Viewed from the left in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section view of the door taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the lower right hand corner of the door shown in FIG. 1 taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of apparatus provided by the invention for assembling the glass panel and metal sash members;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing one of the clamping fixtures in engagement with the glass panel and a metal sash member. I

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the relative positions of one corner of the glass panel and a metal sash member as they are placed on the assembly apparatus;

FlG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 11, but showing the relation for the other corner at the same end of the glass panel; and

FIG. 13 illustrates a glass panel with the metal sash members held in properly spaced relation to panel edges after being removed from the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a glass door 2% of the type with which the invention is concerned. The door comprises a rectangular panel of glass 21 which is preferably tempered and has a thickness and strength suflicient to withstand the forces to which such a door is normally subjected and metal sash members 22 and 23 carried along the upper and lower edges of the panel. Since the metal sash members 22 and 23 are identical, only one will be herein described in detail.

Each sash member 22 and 23 comprises a body member 24 which is substantially H-shaped in cross section (FIGS. 3 and 4) and may be of extruded or cast aluminum, bronze or other suitable metals. The H- shaped formation of the sash member results in two oppositely facing channels 25 and 26 connected by a transverse web 27. The channel 25 is adapted to receive an edge of the panel therein while the channel 26 receives the auxiliary hardware such as hinges, locks, etc. The body 24 is tapered outwardly to accommodate the hardware receiving channel 26 which is wider than the glass panel receiving channel 25. In the use of the conventional /2 and inch panels this tapering effect not only permits the channel 26 to be large enough to receive most sized hardware but as well presents a uniform and eye pleasing exterior finish with the use of a minimum amount of metal.

The opposite ends of the panel receiving channel 25 of the sash member are closed by endplates 28 which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the legs of the channel as at 29 so that they are flush with the respective outer end face of the sash body 24. At the hinged side of the door 20 each of the hardware receiving channels 1 is closed by end plates 30 (FIG. 11) which are similarly secured and held flush with the ends of the sash body 24. However, at the free swinging or locking side of the door,

each of the hardware receiving channels 26 is closed by removable end plates 31' (FIGS. 5 and 12) to permit the insertion and removal of a locking mechanism or other articles of hardware when the door 20 is hung in a suitable frame. The end plates 31 are each removably secured to an adaptor plate 32 by screws 33 (see FIGS. 5 and 12), which plate is received within the channel 26 and rigidly secured to the web 27 of the sash body 24 by a bolt 34 or other suitable means. As well, the end plates 30 may be suitably bored or drilled as at 35 to provide a means for securing a pivoting or hinge mechanism to hingedly connect the door 20 to a suitable frame.

The end plates 28 of the panel receiving channel 25 are slightly shorter than the depth of the channel so that the plates terminate just below the outer edges of the legs of the channel to form ofiset portions 36 (FIGS. 5, 11 and 12) at the ends of the sash body 24. These ofiset portions extend the entire width of the end plates and are equal to the width of the channel 25 and substantially closes the ends thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. From the oifset 36 the inner face of the end plate 28 is curved inwardly and toward the web 27 of the sash member 22 and is serrated as at 37 so as to lock into place a filler material 38 which is poured into the space assembled with and received in the channel 25.

As mentioned above, the door is provided with a layer of a filler material 38, ordinarily consisting of a low melting point metal, between the glass panel 21 and the inner surfaces of the channel 25 of the metal sash member. It is desirable in applying the filler material, which initially is in a molten condition, to the space between the panel and the sash member so that it entirely fills said space, thereby also filling the space between the serrations 37 and the notches 39 at the corners of the glass panel 21. In filling the gaps between the individual serrations with a filler material which is a liquid when heated and a solid at room temperature, a locking or anchoring of the sash member to the glass panel is obtained. Also, it is the purpose of the filler material 38 to fill the longitudinal space existing between the the glass panel and the sides and bottom of the channel 25. This not only enhances the appearance of the door, but also prevents dirt and Water from gaining access to the channel and either damaging the metal surfaces of the channel through corrosion or adversely affecting the locking mechanism.

Although a number of materials may be found suitable for use as a filler material, it has been found in-actual practice that a low melting point metal is best which has the property of expanding on hardening or setting up. One material which has been satisfactorily used for this purpose is an alloy sold under the trade name of (Zorrobase which is composed of 42.5% lead, 55% bismuth and 2.5% tin and has a melting point of approximately 255 F. The property of this material of being able to expand on hardening is very important, in that pouring the molten alloy between the metal and glass occasionally leaves small crevices not completely filled with the molten material. However, when Cerrobase hardens it expands and fills these crevices, producing a tight sealing and anchoring relationship between the glass sheet and the metal sash member.

It is to insure that the glass panel 21 is maintained in accurately spaced relation with respect to the walls of the channel 25 of the sash member during fabrication of the door that the apparatus of the present invention achieves its primary utility. If, on the contrary, the sash members were installed so as to be in direct bearing contact with the glass panel, shocks and vibrations applied to the sash members would be directly transmitted in substantially full force onto the edges of the glass panel causing chipping, cracking or even complete breakage of the glass. However, by maintaining an initial spaced relation between the glass sheet 21 and the metal surfaces of the sash member, flow of the filler material into the space between each glass surface and opposed metal surface is assured.

Turning now to the novel apparatus provided for assembling the above described door structure and with special reference to FIGS. 6 through 9, such is generally designated by the numeral 4%) and comprises a horizontal base plate 41 provided at its opposite ends with a pair of transverse support beams 42 and 43 secured to the upper surface of'the base plate 41 by screws 44 to form a firm rectangular base for supporting the various elements of the apparatus which will be described hereinbelow.

The upper surface of the transverse beam 43 is finished in a plane parallel to the rectangular base 41 for receiving a rectangular metal insertion block 45 fixedly secured thereto at its opposite ends by a plurality of bolts 46. This bar includes a portion 47 extending inwardly beyond the vertical support beam 43, and which is so dimensioned as to enable it to be snugly received within the hardware receiving channel 26 of the sash member 23.

Carried upon the upper surface of the base plate 41 4- are a plurality of vertical posts 48for supporting the glass panel 21 in a horizontal plane. and 8, the posts are arranged in two rows which lie parallel to the longitudinal edges of the base plate 41 and are movably supported in a pair of longitudinally extending slots 49' in the base plate. Referring particularlyvto FIG. 8, each post 48 is comprised of a body portion 50, the lower end 51 of which is reduced in diameter and threaded to form a shoulder 52. Thereduced end 51 extends through one of the slots 49 and is locked in position by a nut 53. The upper end of the body portion 50 is axially drilled and tapped as indicatedby the numeral 54 to receive a headed cap or machine screw 55 which is provided with a cap 56 made of a material which will not scratch or mar the glass panel. A lock or jam nut 57 is threaded on the shank of the screw 55 so that 7 when the cap 56 isat the desired elevation, the jam nut 57 is tightened against the top of the body 50.

Extending transversely of the 'base plate 41 are a plurality of horizontally disposed rods 58 the ends of which are passed through openings 59 (FIG. 8) in the posts 48. Each of the rods 58 is provided with a running thread at either end, for receiving in order, a nut 60, a vertical guide plate 61 and a second nut 62, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. The inner surfaces of the guide. plates engage the opposed edges of the glass panel 21 and provide for lateral adjustment of the panel with respect to the sash members 22 and 23.

At the end of the apparatus adjacent the support beam 42, there is provided a pair of guide means 63, each comprised of a pair of vertically spaced horizontal bars 64 and 65 disposed longitudinally above the outer edge of the base plate 41 (FIGS. 7 and 9) and secured atone end to the beam 42 by bolts 67. The guide bars 64 and 65 are secured at their opposite ends to a vertical support 66 by bolts 63. The bars are also held spaced apart at one end by a block 65" and attheir opposite end by a block 70 on support 66. The supports 6-6 are fixedly mou'rited on the base plate 41 by bolts 71. The spaced bars 64 and 65 at opposite sides of the base provide two horizontal co-planar slots or guide-ways 72 extending longitudinally with respect of the base plate for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

A second substantially rectangular metal insertion block 73 having a length substantially equal to the length of block 45, is disposed with its extremities received in the slots 72 defined by the bars 64 and 65 for sliding movement therein. Carried by the insertion block 73. is a centrally located lug 74 having a threaded opening 74' extending horizontally therethrough. At each side of the lug 74 there are provided additional lugs 75- also carried on the lower surface of the insertion bar 73. The lugs 75 are also provided with bearings 76 (FIG. 9) extending longitudinally of the base plate.

A pair of guide rods 78 are welded, or otherwise suitably secured, in openings 79 provided in the end beam 42 to dispose the guide rods horizontally above one end of the base plate 41 and in alignment with and received in the bearings 76 carried by the lugs 75. As shown best in FIGS. 7 and 9 these rods guide the insertion block 73 as it moves within the guide-ways 72 and serve in that way to maintain the parallel relationship between the insertion block 73 and the base plate 41 substantially constant.

An unthreaded opening 80 (FIG. 7) is provided in the end beam 42 which is aligned with the threaded opening 74' in the 'lug 74. A screw shaft 81 is in running en= gagement with the threads 74' and passes through the opening 80 in the vertical end beam 42 and has secured thereto a hand wheel 82. Rotation of the hand wheel 82 causes the insertion block 73 to move longitudinally in the guide-ways 72. The limit of this longitudinal travel of the insertion block 73 is adjustably determined by a pair of limit screws 83 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending through threaded openings in the spacer blocks 70, said screws As shown in FIGS. 7

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extending longitudinally into the guide-ways 72 for engaging the leading surface of the insertion block 73. I am nuts 84 permit the locking of the screws 83 at any desired adjustment.

The inner end of the insertion block 73 is of such dimension and shape as to be snugly received within the hardware channel 26 of sash member 22, said block 73 being located in the same horizontal plane as the fixed insertion block 45 and the said blocks 45 and 73 being parallel with the base plate 41. It is also to be noted that the insertion block 73 is provided with notches 7'7 for straddling the end plates 30 and 31 and the adaptor plate 32, as shown particularly in FIGS. 11 and 12.

Before a glass panel 21 is placed in the above described apparatus, special aligning fixtures 85 are provided for attachment to the opposite edges or" the panel which are to receive the metal sash members 22 and 23 adjacent each corner thereof, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13. Each of the mounting fixtures 85 comprises a fiat vertical side member 86 disposed opposite a side edge of the glass panel and provided with a pair of spaced parallel horizontal bars 37 secured thereto and a second pair of spaced parallel horizontal bars 88 also secured to the base 86 parallel to the bars 87 and spaced therefrom. The bars 87 are spaced a sufiicient distance from one another to permit the glass panel 21 to be received therebetween while the bars 83 are spaced from one another a distance sufficient to permit the sash member 22 or 23 to be received therebetween.

The spacing bars 87 are each provided with pairs of aligned threaded openings 89 for receiving screws 90 which engage the opposite surfaces of the panel to clamp the fixture 85 thereto. In a similar manner, the bars 88 are each provided with aligned threaded openings 91 for receiving screws 2 which serve to clamp the fixture 85 to the respective metal sash member as will be later described. The inner ends of the screws t? and 92 may be covered with nylon or Teflon if desired.

Turning now to the operation of the apparatus, the glass panel 21 is first placed horizontally upon the caps 56 forming the uppermost portions of the vertical posts 43, with the long dimension of the panel being held parallel to the long dimension of the base plate 41 by the guide plates 61. At this time, the opposite ends of the glass panel are in spaced relation to the insertion blocks 45 and 73. Next, the aligning fixtures 85 are placed along the side edges of the panel, with the edges of the panel in contacting relationship with the inner face of the vertical side member 86 of the fixture 85. The screws 90 are tightened onto the panel at such a point that the screw members 92 are located beyond the respective end of the glass panel, as shown in FIGS. 8 and E}. It is to be noted that the screws 99 should be so adjusted with respect to one another as to maintain the bars 87 substantially parallel with the gass panel '21. This is important in that it maintains the fixture in a proper relationship so the glass panel can be inserted into the re ceiving channel of the sash member in properly spaced relation to the Walls thereof. 7

Since some of the molten fille material 33 may escape from the channel 25 and run over the exterior of the sash member, a pressure sensitive tape 93 is first applied to both surfaces of each sash member, adjacent the. channel 25, as shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9. The sash members 22 and 23 are placed respectively on the insertion blocks 73 and 45, with the hardware channels 26 snugly receiving the blocks therein. The sash members, as shown in FlG. 7, are located so as to register with the width of the glass panel and the posts 48 have been adjusted so that the panel Will be in horizontal alignment with the channels 25 in the sash members 22 and 23.

After the sash members are in place on the insertion blocks, the wheel 32 is advanced to move the insertion block 73 and the sash member 22 carried thereby toward the opposed end of the glass panel until the marginal edge portion of the panel is received within the channel 25 of the sash member 22 carried by the block 73. In view of the fact that the edge of the glass panel adjacent the end beam 43 will ordinarily be spaced somewhat from the sash member 23 supported on the block 47, it will be necessary to advance the Wheel 82 an amount sufiicient to slide the panel on the contacting surfaces 56 until the end of the glass sheet is received in the channel 25 of the sash member 23 carried by the bar 4-5 and disposed in spaced relation with respect to the walls of the channel. The Wheel 82 must then be backed off slightly in order to provide the required spaced relation between the channel walls of the sash member 22 carried by the bar 73 and the edges of the glass panel. When this has been achieved the screws 92 are advanced into clamping relationship with the sash members 22 and 23 as shown in FIG. 10 thereby securing the sash members in spaced relation to the glass panel.

The Wheel 82 is now backed oil to withdraw the insertion block 73 from the sash member 22 which is now attached to the end of the glass panel. At this time, the

in a vertical position. When the fillter material is partially solidified the pressure sensitive tape 93 is stripped from the sash members with any filler material which may have run over onto the tape. After the filler material has completely hardened, the fixtures are re-' moved and the door is then ready for the mounting of other hardware such as a locking mechanism, etc.

While the glass door 20 is herein illustrated and described as being provided with metal sash members along the top and bottom edges thereof, it will be appreciated that the invention also contemplates such a door having a metal sash member along one edge only thereof. Also, the term glass doors as used herein is intended to cover Windows and the like.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as illustrative embodiments only of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors composed of a glass panel having a channeled metal sash member covering at least one edge margin thereof and a filler material disposed within said channel to secure the sash member to the glass panel, said apparatus comprising a horizontal base, means carried by said base for supporting said sash member, with the channel thereof facing in a horizontal direction, means also carried by said base for supporting said panel in a horizontal position and in alignment with the channel in said sash member, means for moving said sash member supporting means and glass panel relative to one another to position the edge of the panel in said channel in spaced relation to the walls thereof, and a clamping fixture for maintaining said sash member and panel in such spaced relation to permit a filler material to be placed within said space to secure the sash member to the panel.

2. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors composed of a glass panel having an H-shaped metal sash member covering at least one edge margin thereof, said apparatus comprising a horizontal base, a support member carried by said base for supporting the sash member, said support member being received within one channel of the H-shaped sash member for supporting said sash member in a horizontal position with the second channel thereof facing in the opposite direction, means also carried by said base for supporting said panel in a horizontal position and in alignment with the second channel in said sash member, means for moving said sash member support member and glass panel horizontally relative to one another to position the edge of the panel in said second channel in spaced relation to the Walls thereof, and a clamping fixture engaging said sash member and glass panel for maintaining them in such spaced relation to permit a filler material to be placed within said space to secure the sash member to the panel.

3. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors composed of a glass panel having channeled metal sash members covering two opposite edge margins thereof and a filler material disposed within said channel to secure the sash member to the glass panel, said apparatus comprising a horizontal base, means carried by said base for supporting said sash members in spaced relation, with the channels thereof facing one another and in horizontal alignment, means also carried by said base for slidably supporting said panel in a horizontal position between the sash members and with opposite edges thereof in alignment with the channels in said sash members, means for moving the supporting means for the sash members and the glass panel horizontally relative to one another to position the opposite edges of the panel in the channels of the sash members in spaced relation to the walls thereof, and a clamping fixture for maintaining each sash member in spaced relation to the respective edge of the panel to permit a filler material to be placed within said space to secure the sash member to the panel.

4. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 3, in which the means for supporting one of said sash members is stationary, while the means for supporting the other sash member is movable, and means for moving said movable support means to bring the sash member carried thereby into contact with the panel and for then moving said panel to position the opposite edge thereof in the channel of the sash member carried by said stationary support means.

5. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 4, including means for limiting the horizontal movement of the movable support means toward the panel.

6. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 3, in which the means for slidably supporting the glass panel includes guide means engaging opposite edges thereof.

7. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 3, in which the means for supporting one sash member includes a fixed member and in which the means for supporting the second sash member includes a horizontally movable member, and including means carried by said base member and defining horizontal guideways in which said movable support member is horizontally slidable.

8. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 3, in which each clamping fixture comprises means for engaging and clamping opposite surfaces of the panel and also means for engaging and clamping opposite surfaces of a sash member to maintain the panel and sash members in predetermined relation relative to one another when the panel and the sash members are removed from their supporting means.

9. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors composed of a glass panel having H-shaped metal sash members covering opposite edge margins thereof, said apparatus comprising a horizontal base, a first support member carried by said base for supporting one sash member, said support member being received within one channel of the H-shaped sash member for supporting said sash member in a horizontal position with the second channel thereof facing in the opposite direction, a second support member also carried by said base in spaced relation to said first support member for supporting a second sash member, with said second support member being received within one channel of the second sash member for supporting said sash member in a horizontal position with the second,

channel thereof facing and in alignment \m'th theopposed channel of the first sash member, means carried by the base between said first and second support members for slidably supporting the glass panel in a horizontal position in alignment with the channels of the sash members,

means for moving the support members for the sash members and the glass panel horizontally relative to one another to position opposite edges of the panel in the opposing channels of said sash members and in spaced relation to the walls thereof, and clamping fixtures engaging the glass panel and each of said sash members for to position the opposite edge thereof in the channel of the sash member carried by said stationary support member.

11. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 10, including means for limiting the horizontal movement of the movable support member toward the panel.

12. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 10, in which the means for slidably supporting the glass panel includes guide means engaging opposite edges thereof.

13. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 10, in which the first support member for supporting one of said sash members is stationary While the second support member for supporting the other sash member is movable, and including means carried by said base and defining horizontal guideways in which said movable support member is horizontally slidable.

14. Apparatus for use in the fabrication of doors as defined in claim 10, in which each clamping fixture comprises means for engaging and clamping opposite surfaces of the panel, and also means for engaging and clamping opposite surfaces of a sash member to maintain the panel and sash member in predetermined relation relative to one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,194,551 Holman Mar. 26, 1940 2,342,025 Watter Feb. 15, 1944 2,608,750 Cluzel Sept. 2, 1952 2,670,531 Mackey Mar. 2, 1954 

